68. Marriage arrangements

CHAPTER 68

Marriage arrangements

Function hall was being decorated by Arvin and friends.                           Worried, Arvind said, “I wonder where Siddartha is. When ever I phone, this bride groom keeps saying that he is coming.”

Pankaj said, “Don’t you know that the father of his close friend Amrita was killed? He must have gone there.”

Arvind said, “What to do? Such shocking news. I feel very bad. I will try to contact him again. Let us see what he says.”

He phoned to Siddartha.

Siddartha had just come out of the hospital. He was talking to commando Ramdev. His phone rang.

Siddartha said on phone, “Hallo, Arvind? What is it?”

Arvind said on phone, “Where are you? We have finished the decorations. It is already 12 midnight.”

Siddartha said, “Eh. I am at the hospital. You people continue with your jobs. If everything goes well, we will arrive on time for the marriage.”

Arvind said, “Send Reshmi. We have to make her a bride.”

Siddartha was shocked to hear Reshmi’s name. But he was ready with an excuse. “We will come together. After that we will do everything together.”

***************

In the hideout, Reshmi and the judge were tied in the hanging position. 

Looking at the time, Bilal said, “It is 12:30. They must be giving Afzal a bath. Let us also give this judge a bath.”  

Judge shivered with fear. The men took him away.

Looking at Reshmi, Bilal said, “Release this girl and put her in the room. That Siddartha will soon be coming for her.” 

The men released Reshmi. She was too tired. They took her to the room.

*********************

Afzal was sleeping in jail. Lock was opened. Afzal got up.                   Coming near Afzal, Jailer said, “Get up. We have to give you a bath.”

Afzal said angrily, “I will not come.”

4 men came and dragged Afzal away for bath.

After bath, Afzal was brought back to his cell.

Jailer asked, “What do you want to eat as your last dinner?”

Afzal said angrily, “I want to have poison for dinner.” 

Jailer said coolly, “You like chicken pulao very much, isn’t it?”

Jailor brought chicken pulao. Afzal looked at him with fire in his eyes.

Jailor said, “You will be alive for just a few more hours. Don’t fuss. Spend your time praying to god that in the next life instead of being born as an anti-national, you want to be born as a good human being.”

But Afzal kicked the chicken pulao with his feet.

Looking at the jailer, crying loudly, Afzal  said, “I don’t want to die. I want to live for the sake of my wife and children.”

Looking at him with pity, Jailor said, “Do you know the value of life? Didn’t you realize this when you took the lives of thousands of innocent people? It is a great merit to be born in India. And you cheated such a nation. What is the use of crying now? You have even kicked your last food.”

He went away.